Gaelic Storm, the widely praised Celtic ensemble, assembled in 1997 and advanced from informal gatherings at neighborhood taverns in Santa Monica, California, to worldwide prominence as a touring and recording outfit. Directed by founding members Patrick Murphy and Steve Twigger, the group secured its initial broad recognition before issuing any studio work, appearing as the "steerage band" entertaining passengers in James Cameron's blockbuster 1997 film Titanic. Audience enthusiasm had already taken hold by the time their self-titled debut arrived the following year. An energetic fusion of Irish and Scottish traditional pieces, drinking songs, and playful original compositions helped establish them as a sought-after live attraction, prompting rapid follow-up releases with 1999's Herding Cats and 2001's Tree. Chart success arrived alongside their fourth studio album, How Are We Getting Home?, in 2004, which reached number three on Billboard's world music chart. Subsequent efforts climbed higher still, as Bring Yer Wellies in 2006 landed at number two and What's the Rumpus? in 2008 claimed the top spot. Personnel fluctuated throughout the first decade before stabilizing around piper Peter Purvis, percussionist Ryan Lacey, and a rotating cast of fiddlers, all supporting Murphy and Twigger's multi-instrumentalism and shared vocal responsibilities. The group sustained a high output in the following ten years through nonstop touring and albums including 2010's Cabbage, 2012's Chicken Boxer, and 2013's The Boathouse. After the 2014 career-spanning compilation Full Irish, Gaelic Storm delivered Matching Sweaters the next year. Two decades into their run, they remained at peak level with another chart-topper, 2017's Go Climb a Tree.
